Kia Optima Best and Worst Years

Counting owner complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2016 Kia Optima drew the most (53; most-reported area: engine) and the 2020 the fewest (25).

Data: US EPA and NHTSAUpdated Sep 27, 2026

Every model year since 2016 in one place: EPA fuel economy, NHTSA recalls, owner complaints and crash test ratings. The best fuel economy rating, 42 mpg combined, arrived in 2017. Includes the Optima Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid. Kia replaced the Optima with the K5 for 2021.

Best and worst years, by owner complaints

Model years ranked by owner complaints filed with NHTSA in their first three years (model year Y: filed by the end of Y+2), so every year is measured over the same time on the road. Years without three full years of data, and launch or final years with very few sold, are left out. Counts are not adjusted for how many were sold.

Model year	First 3 years	All complaints	Recalls
2016 Optima Most reported: engine	53	758	5
2018 Optima Most reported: engine	46	243	3
2017 Optima Most reported: engine	44	304	4
2019 Optima Most reported: engine	41	209	1
2020 Optima Most reported: engine	25	148	0

Year by year

Model year	Best rating	Recalls	Complaints
2020 MPG · Recalls and problems	42 mpg Hybrid	0	148
2019 MPG · Recalls and problems	41 mpg Hybrid	1	209
2018 MPG · Recalls and problems	42 mpg Hybrid	3	243
2017 MPG · Recalls and problems	42 mpg Hybrid	4	304
2016 MPG · Recalls and problems	37 mpg Hybrid	5	758

Owner complaints by model year

All complaints filed so far. Counts rise with sales volume and with time on the road, so recent years look better than they may turn out. The highlighted bar is the model year with the most complaints in its first three years.

2016: 758 complaints

Show as a table

Owner complaints by model year, Kia Optima
Model year	Complaints
2016	758
2017	304
2018	243
2019	209
2020	148

Best combined rating by model year

The best-rated version in each model year. Gas: 31 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2020). Hybrid: 37 to 42 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2020); highest in 2017.

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2020: gas 31 mpg · hybrid 42 mpg

Show as a table

Kia Optima best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2016	31	37
2017	31	42
2018	31	42
2019	31	41
2020	31	42

Questions

Which Kia Optima years have the most problems?

Counting owner complaints filed with NHTSA in each model year's first three years, the 2016 (53) drew the most, then the 2018 (46). Most-reported area for the 2016: engine.

Which Kia Optima years have the fewest problems?

The 2020 (25) drew the fewest complaints in its first three years.

Which Kia Optima years should you avoid?

No Kia Optima year stands out: complaints in each year's first three years ranged from 25 to 53, and the worst year drew less than one and a half times a typical year. Whatever the year, check the car's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy. Safety recall repairs are free at Kia dealers.

Which Kia Optima years have the most recalls?

The 2016 has the most safety recalls in NHTSA's file (5), then the 2017 (4). A recall can cover a problem that affects only a few cars, so open a year's page to see what each one covers. No recall for 2016 to 2020 models tells owners not to drive the car or to park it outside.

What are the most common Kia Optima problems?

Of the 1,662 owner complaints NHTSA lists for 2016 to 2020 models, the areas named most are engine (57%), electrical system (13%), and powertrain (10%). One complaint can name more than one area. The recalls and problems page for each year breaks this down further.

Which Kia Optima year has the best MPG?

The best EPA fuel economy is 42 mpg combined, first reached by the 2017 hybrid version.

Sources and method

US EPA fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 18, 2026.
NHTSA recall file dated Sep 27, 2026 and owner complaint file dated Sep 26, 2026; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings.

Complaint counts are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.